The turning point began in the 1930s and ’40s, when state wildlife agencies and organizations like the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) prioritized wild turkey restoration. Key strategies included:
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Translocation: Biologists began relocating wild turkeys from healthy populations to areas where they had disappeared. This practice was more effective than raising birds in captivity.
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Hunting Regulations: States implemented strict hunting seasons, bag limits, and permit systems to prevent overharvesting.
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Habitat Restoration: Conservationists focused on restoring forests, maintaining open woodlands, and using controlled burns to create ideal nesting and foraging conditions.
Landowners, hunters, scientists, and conservation organizations all played vital roles in the wild turkey’s recovery. Through programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and partnerships between the NWTF and state agencies, thousands of acres of habitat have been restored or preserved.
Hunters also helped fund conservation efforts through the Pittman-Robertson Act, which channels excise taxes from firearms and ammunition toward wildlife management and habitat protection.
How can you help?
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Attend a meeting: join your local NWTF chapter, go to their meetings and attend their habitat field days. Without providing valuable input at meetings, your voice can not be heard. Chapters and meetings can be found at www.nwtf.org
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Banquets: go to a chapter banquet. These banquets help raise the much needed funding for habitat projects and research.
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Donate: visit the NWTF official website and click the donate button. Every little bit helps.